Bank protector



Dac. 15, 1925. 1,566,120

v .J. F. REEDER BANK PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 14 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITE-fo STATI-:1s

' JOHNF. REEDER, OF SHELBYVILLE, LLNOIS.

' BANK PROTECTOR.

Application filed February 14,1924. Serial No. 692,823.

To aZZ whom it. may concern Be it known that I, JOHN F. REEDER, a citizen of the United States,VV residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and f State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bank Protectors; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of the invention, such -as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The purposeof the present invention is the protection of a person engaged in the handling of large sums of money, such as the teller of a bank, or one in a like position to whom strangers` and others are accessible. An individual so situated is frequently' thel victim of a burglar and iS usually helpless when a robbery is attempted.

The present invention provides a barrier which is adapted to be tripped when a robbery is attempted, and which `assumes a position between the would-be robber and the victim, said being bullet-proof to prevent injury to the guardian of the money and other valuables should the burglar use a weapon, such as a firearm, and it is also the intention to close exits to prevent the escape of the burglar and insure capture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure 1 is a detail view showing the application of the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several viewsof the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a counter or like fixture such as provided in a bank or analogous institution where money and other valuables are handled and dispensed. In accordance with the present invention,

`a screen 2 is provided and constitutes a shield or barrier and is bullet-proof and is mounted in guides 3 so as to slide up and down. 'lhe guides 3 preferably consist of channel iron and the screen 2 is provided with guide rollers L1, whereby to reduce the friction to the smallest amount and to prevent possible binding of the screen in its movements. A catch 5` is provided at the upper end of each of the guides 3 and engages the screen 2 and holds it elevated and out of the way. The catches 5 are adapted to be tripped, thereby releasing the screen which drops suddenly and interposes a barrier between the clerk or other person charged with the keeping of the money and valuables and the burglar, thereby precluding the effective use of a weapon and protecting the clerk or other person charged with the care of the money from injury.

A slide 6 is provided to close an openingl in the screen and provides for observation.

A trip rod 7 is conveniently positioned within the enclosure and may extend so as to be operated from various points. The trip rod 7 is connected with a trigger 8 by means of a flexible connection 9 such as a chain, which passes around a system of guide pulleys 10. When the trip rod 7 is depressed or moved from a normal position, the trigger 8 is operated and effects a release of the screen 2 which drops into operative position. Springs 11 return the trip rod 7 to normal position.

A bar 12 is connected at each end to the respective catches 5 by means of a connection 13 and the latter is weighted, as indicated at 14, so that when the trigger 8 is withdrawn from beneath the bar 12, the latter drops and effects release of the catches 5. Arms 15 connect the bar 12 with a portion of the counter or other support and serve to hold the bar in predetermined position. A spring 12el is secured between bar 12 and theunderside of counter 1 to serve as a shock absorber to the action of the bar when released by the trigger.

The screen 2 is lifted so as to be out of the Way and is held elevated by means of the catches 5. In an emergency, as in an attempt to bnrglarize the bank or other institution, a clerk, officer or other person operates the rod 7 which may be actuated by the foot, thereby releasing the catches 5 and permittingjr the screen 2 to drop with the result that a barrier is interposed between the burglar and the one in charge of the money or other valuables and npon whom the attack is made by the robber.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. Protective means for a bank counter' or the like consisting of spaced guides of channel form having,- their channels facingjv each other, a screen intermediate the guides, said screen having; rollers mounted therefrom on opposite sides thereof and adapted to travel on the inner surfaces ofthe flanges of the guides and within the channels, catches pivoted to said guides and extending into the channels engaging the screen to normally hold it elevated, a vertically movable trip rod, connections between said catches and trip rod adjacent the guides, and trip means to operate the device including a. trigger normally engaged with said trip rod and maintaining it elevated.

2. Protective means for a bank or other institution, the same comprising a bulletproof screen, catch means for normally holding the same elevated and out of the way, a weighted trip rod, connectingl means for normally holding the trip rod in predetermined position, a trigger normally sup portingi the trip rod in elevated position, and trip means for disengaginpr the trigger from the trip rod, whereby the screen is released and dropped into operative posi-- tion.

3. Protective means for a bank or other institution, the saine comprisingl a bulletproof screen, catch means for normally holding the screen elevated, a trip member connected with the catch means, a trigger normally supporting the trip member-Vin elevated position, trip rods extending in opposite directions from the trigger, and a flexible connection and guide pulleys between the trigger and each of the trip rods. whereby actuation of either trip rod operates the trigger and effects release of the screen which drops into operative position.

In testimony whereof I afl-ix my signature.

JOHN F. REEDER. 

